I think these mounts are truly a great idea for the people who want to have visual and AP in the same package with those newts...it would be the perfect intro rig for all the people in the world that want to start out with a rig capable of visual and AP, with the newts being much more forgiving on beginner AP, and the mount capable of altaz so the scope doesnt wind up in weird viewing positions for visual use. Unfotunately the price tag is way above a beginner price. I was pretty shocked at the price tag on it. Then again, if its as rock solid as the Atlas then there is some value in it. Its a great concept.

On price much depends on the beginner, i have seen plenty of ads in my time for CPC 1100s, Skywatcher 300s on the NEQ6 ad Celestron 9.25s on CGEMs being sold by people saying "bought this for a laugh as a newbie but cant understand it so selling ot on"

I have even bought a fair few bits of high end kit bought be complete newbs to the hobby who bought stuff on the basis of "man.....I just want the biggest scope and biggest mount in the shop, cos I got loadsa money"

Recently I saw, in a dealer showroom, a Takahashi on a Temma which they were selling 2nd hamd, some newb bought it from new cos he had to have the very best. Owned it for a few months and realised he couldnt understand the hardware so asked the dealer to take it back. Shame really......such a pretty scope but now covered in dimgs and scrapes where newby didnt look after it.

Bottom line is the new mount will sell to all newbs as well as the EQ6 did which judgimg by ebay sales and ads on astrobuysell will be pretty well.

As a total newb more than 5 years ago I bought an EQ6-Pro as my first purchase. I have not regretted that purchase one little bit. Instead of buying a series of lesser mounts on my way to this one my dealer asked if I was comfortable with technology and then walked me over to the right stuff. Glad he did.